Winson Green Church is organised by Pastor Wilfred Masih T he Winson Green Church story began in 2003 during an evangelistic tent meeting run by the West Midlands churches under the leadership of Pastor D. Masih. These meetings resulted in a number of baptisms, and the team members – Pastors Nicholson, Watson and Haworth and Sister Mardiner – decided to set up a company which worshipped at various locations during the next few years. In 2011, they ended up worshipping in the hall of the Bishop Latimer Memorial Church in Winson Green, Birmingham. Pastor E. Lawrence, who is currently serving as the pastor, asked the Church of England whether they could worship in the sanctuary itself and the request was approved. The sanctuary has a capacity of 1,000-plus, but due to the dwindling congregation the Church of England could no longer maintain the facility. After dialogue with Pastors D. Masih and E. Lawrence an agreement was reached whereby the building was donated to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The company took on the challenge of maintaining the building, and the refurbishments are ongoing. On 12 March the company was officially recognised as a church and became part of the sisterhood of Seventh-day Adventist churches. The sanctuary was almost full as friends and family members joined to celebrate this special occasion in what is now one of the largest buildings in the British Union Conference. The Winson Green church is almost 70 members strong and continues to grow as a beacon of hope in its wider community. The organising service was conducted by the President and Executive Secretary of the North England Conference, Pastors Johnson and Ferguson respectively. In the afternoon there was an opportunity to hear from the early members, who shared their testimonies and experiences of how God has led them since 2003. The immediate community this church serves comprises various ethnic groups, but largely Afro-Caribbeans and Asians. HM Prison Birmingham and Birmingham City Hospital, one of the busiest hospitals in Birmingham, are in close proximity. There is a huge challenge ahead for this newly organised church in terms of reaching out to the community and the refurbishment drive for the church building, but the members remain positive and firmly grounded in the promises of God’s faithfulness at all times.
Transcript
Winson Green Churchis organisedby Pastor Wilfred Masih
The Winson Green Church story began in 2003 during an evangelistic tent meeting run by the West Midlands churches under the leadership of Pastor D. Masih. These meetings resulted
in a number of baptisms, and the team members – Pastors Nicholson,Watson and Haworth and Sister Mardiner – decided to set up a company which worshipped at various locations during the next fewyears.
In 2011, they ended up worshipping in the hall of the Bishop LatimerMemorial Church in Winson Green, Birmingham. Pastor E. Lawrence,who is currently serving as the pastor, asked the Church of Englandwhether they could worship in the sanctuary itself and the request wasapproved. The sanctuary has a capacity of 1,000-plus, but due to thedwindling congregation the Church of England could no longer maintainthe facility. After dialogue with Pastors D. Masih and E. Lawrence anagreement was reached whereby the building was donated to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The company took on the challenge of maintaining the building, and the refurbishments are ongoing.
On 12 March the company was officially recognised as a church and became part of the sisterhood of Seventh-day Adventist churches.The sanctuary was almost full as friends and family members joined to
celebrate this special occasion in what is now one of the largest buildings in the British Union Conference. The Winson Green church is almost 70 members strong and continues to grow as a beacon ofhope in its wider community.
The organising service was conducted by the President and Executive Secretary of the North England Conference, Pastors Johnsonand Ferguson respectively. In the afternoon there was an opportunity to hear from the early members, who shared their testimonies and experiences of how God has led them since 2003. The immediate community this church serves comprises various ethnic groups, but
largely Afro-Caribbeans and Asians. HM Prison Birmingham andBirmingham City Hospital, one of the busiest hospitals in Birmingham, are in close proximity. There is a huge challengeahead for this newly organised church in terms of reaching out to
the community and the refurbishmentdrive for the church building, butthe members remain positive andfirmly grounded in thepromises of God’sfaithfulness at alltimes.
32 editorialThe case of the church telephoneI
She had not the slightest inkling of the purpose of our visit so I briefly sketched the problem of the high accounts and asked her if she knew of anyone who was making private use of thechurch phone. ‘No pastor,’ she assured me.
I then asked if she had perhaps made long-distance private calls to anyone. Her answer wasemphatic: ‘No Pastor, not me! I would never do anything like that!’
Then I produced the phone log with the calls to her sister all neatly underlined . . . and sheblew her top!
Suddenly it was my fault!Suddenly it was my fault that the whole thing had happened. I was to blame for the situation. Herwords just poured forth: ‘You caused this problem! You behaved like a lawyer! You asked methose questions! You set a trap for me!’
Well there we are, back to where we started: ‘Questions are only offensive to those who havesomething to hide.’
Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.’ If only thisangry ‘saint’ had discovered that before we visited her home. If only she had been honest withus, instead of objecting to the questions. If only she had responded like the woman who hadbeen making the overseas calls. When confronted, she immediately admitted that she had donewrong; sobbed her heart out because of it; and mended her ways.
Something to be avoidedSadly, when one reflects on what is happening both locally and globally, it seems that too manypeople have assumed the default position that honesty is something to be avoided. From the corridors of political power to the ‘castles’ of commerce and industry, honesty is frequently thelast line of defence.
What frightens me the most, however, is that church affiliation doesn’t automatically ensurethat our actions will be honest. The deceiver is as active within the church as he is in the streetsbeyond. The saint is as open to temptation as the sinner!
Honesty is refreshingIt has been said that ‘honesty is refreshing’, and this is so true. But there is more to honesty thanthe mere willingness to come clean about our deceit or misdemeanours. The honesty that heavenprizes most is that which is determined to remain uncorrupted in the first place. For example:
‘Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice ofJoseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”
‘But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himselfwith anything in the house;everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. . . . Mymaster has withheld nothingfrom me except you, becauseyou are his wife. How thencould I do such a wicked thingand sin against God?” Andthough she spoke to Joseph dayafter day, he refused to go tobed with her or even to be withher.’ (Genesis 39:6-10, NIV-UK.)
How about you? Does Godneed to be concerned?
1Gary Hopkins, quoted on https://www.pinterest.com/explore/honesty-quotes/2 http://www.norval.co.za/history-of-benoni/
*Editor’s note: These events took placenearly forty years ago and those involvedhave long since passed to their rest inJesus.
Julian HibbertEditor Julian HibbertEditor
As supplied, errors and omissions excepted
anthropologists, demographers and epidemiologists. The team gave official Blue Zone status to the regions that met all their longevity criteria.These were: Ikaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan; Ogliastra Region, Sardinia;Loma Linda, California; and Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica.
Here are two research findings from these longevity studies:
Exercise‘Walking five miles or more a day as Sardinian shepherds do providescardiovascular benefits and has a positive effect on muscle and bonemetabolism without the joint-pounding of running marathons ortriathlons.’3
FoodHealth reporter Barclay states:
‘Health researchers have long praised the Mediterranean diet for promoting brain and physical health and keeping chronic diseases atbay.’4 She reports the key food tips that promote longevity as:• ‘Stop eating when your stomach is 80% full to avoid weight gain.’• ‘Eat the smallest meal of the day in the late afternoon or evening.’• ‘Eat mostly plants, especially beans.’
Here’s to a long life.
Good health!1http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/04/11/398325030/eating-to-break-100-longevity-diet-tips-from-the-blue-zones 2https://www.bluezones.com/resources/books/ 3http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/happiest-places/blue-zones-sardinia-photos/#/barbagia-elder-long-life_41632_600x450.jpg 4http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/04/11/398325030/eating-to-break-100-longevity-diet-tips-from-the-blue-zones
This issue features the final instalment in the mini-series on longevity.Let’s review the journey:
In the first segment, we highlighted some national statistics whichidentified the gap between the genders, with women continuing to livelonger than men. Also highlighted were the diseases that advance ageing and the regional disparities in health (the North-South divide) affecting longevity in the UK.
In the second and third instalments, we reviewed the findings of theBBC documentary, How To Stay Young, which showed how the righttype of exercise, food, mental wellness practices, social experiencesand brain health progression promoted healthy ageing.
This issue gives an overview of some well-known longevity researchfrom areas around the world where people live the longest.
In an article titled, ‘Eating to Break 100: Longevity Diet Tips from theBlue Zone’, Eliza Barclay takes a round trip to the global spots with thelargest numbers of centenarians. She was looking at lifestyle factorsand here is what she found:
‘The people who live in the Blue Zones – five regions in Europe, LatinAmerica, Asia and the US which researchers have identified as havingthe highest concentrations of centenarians in the world –move their bodies a lot. They have social circles that reinforce healthybehaviours. They take time to de-stress. They’re part of communities,often religious ones. And they’re committed to their families.’1
Dan Buettner’s book (various editions), The Blue Zones: 9 Lessonsfor Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest,2 is a combination of work undertaken by a team of researchers,
Going natural Part 11d – Longevity tips – final thoughts
As supplied, errors and omissions excepted
I stumbled upon this quote the other day:‘Questions are only offensive to those whohave something to hide.’1 – and it opened upa rusty can of memories.
Years ago, I was assigned two congrega-tions in a city not far from Johannesburg,South Africa. The city had started life almost acentury before as the village of Little Cornwall,initially populated by Cornishmen who had arrived to open the Chimes gold mine in whatwas then the Boer Transvaal Republic.2
I really enjoyed my years as pastor/evangelist in this city, especially in the moreactive of the two churches. It was well spicedwith interesting, hard-working and enthusiasticmembers from whom I learnt a great deal.But, like most vibrant congregations, it was home to some who tested my pastoralpatience . . . and our Lord’s abundant grace!
The telephoneThe events I am about to relate started with the church’s telephone. Although only accessible to a few privileged members whocarried keys to the room where it was kept,our monthly account had climbed alarmingly.It was obvious that calls were being made outside of the normal church opening hoursand so the account recipients took it uponthemselves to find out who was responsible.Without fuss or fanfare they arranged for thetelephone provider to attach a call-logging device to the phone.
Initially they told nobody about the problem, or their arrangements to get to thebottom of it. Then, once they had the firstmonth’s printout in hand, they asked to meetme. What an eye-opener that printout provedto be, as the three of us methodically piecedtogether the telephone habits of some of ourprominent ‘saints’!
We let the logging device run for anothermonth and it told a similar story. The numbersthey called soon gave up their secrets. Someone was making costly internationalcalls; another was regularly calling her sister800 kilometres away; and a third person wasusing the church phone to make dozens ofbusiness calls during work hours. Thoserecords suggested other things too, but youhave heard enough to get the picture.
The visits beginIt is best to deal with such matters within astight a circle as possible, thereby limiting theembarrassment of the guilty and giving themthe chance for a fresh and private start. Wespoke confidentially with each ‘suspect’ and,one after another, they acknowledged the errorof their ways.*
The last of our visits took us out to a cluster of smallholdings beyond the city limitsto meet with a woman of whom Solomononce wrote:
‘Better to live on a corner of the roof thanshare a house with a quarrelsome wife.’(Proverbs 21:9, NIV-UK.)
There can’t be many Adventist institutions around the world which own
a cave. The retreat centre ofHlíðardalsskóli in Iceland is an exception, in this and many otherrespects. As part of their annualtraining and team-building programme, pastors from thethree Missions recently visitedthis amazing place and onWednesday 27 April a group from the Welsh Mission set out to explore the cave.
Now let me explain about the cave. Known locally as Raufarhólshellir, this is not someslight hollow in the rock: it is arugged lava tube 1,350 metreslong which penetrates deep intoIceland’s basalt interior. As thefourth-largest cave in Iceland it isa major tourist site, attractingprofessional and amateur caversfrom all over the world. You mayor may not end up visiting here
yourself but, just incase, I’d like to sharewith you some of theuseful lessons that welearned on the trip. Youmay find that some of
them apply to more than just caving.
1. Get a good guide (Jeremiah3:4). As guides go you couldn’tfind one any better than ours. Aformer soldier who ran his ownsecurity company for manyyears, Dan Sommer is an expertcaver. He also pastors a non-denominational church in Reykjavik. Dan regularly takesgroups into the cave and knows itlike the back of his hand. Heknows every risk and every obstacle and he also understandsthe geology of the place. WithDan as our guide we knew thatwe would never be in any realdanger.
2. Take the right equipment(Ephesians 6:11-18). I thought Iwas well-equipped. Having heardabout the cave in advance I took sturdy hiking boots, warm
clothes, a waterproof jacket, andeverything else I thought I mightneed. But Dan brought things that we hadn’t even thought of: a thermal blanket in case of an injury, metal studded-over shoesto grip the ice, emergency flares, candles, matches, sparebatteries. You name it, Dan had it. And he was very generous.Those who were less well-equipped were given what theyneeded. He even gave his bestspare pair of boots to someonewhose footwear wasn’t quite upto the task.
3. You need a light (Psalm119:105). The most importantpiece of kit in a cave is a light. Ihad a really good torch, againbrought from home in anticipationof this adventure, but it was of the hand-held variety. The problem in this particular cave,Dan explained, is that you needboth hands free to support yourself as you climb over therocks. So the best light is onewhich you wear on your head,angled downwards so that youcan see where you are putting
your feet. Naturally, Dan had extras in his rucksack.
4. Think two steps ahead(Proverbs 16:9). Knowing whereto put your feet is crucial in aworld of uneven, often unstableboulders. Dan re-taught us howto walk. The idea is to see whereyou are going to put your foot butalways have the second stepplanned as well. That way, if thefirst rock moves or gives way,you are ready to put your foot on the next one. This ‘plan B’ approach saved me on more thanone occasion.
5. The big rocks are your friends(1 Peter 2:4-8). In the whole of the cave there was hardly a flat patch anywhere. Just occasionally the smooth, formerly molten floor would beexposed, but generally we werenegotiating rocks. When facedwith a wall of rocks, often involving a climb or descent oftwenty metres or more, what doyou do? Well, the timid can tackleit one small step at a time, but thebest and quickest way to do it is
4to pick the biggest boulders andstep, or leap, from one to another.Dan explained that the big rocksare your friends. Big as they are,they tend not to move when youwalk on them. Also, one longstride from boulder to bouldertakes you the same distance asmany shorter steps, so, althoughit requires a greater initial effort,in the end it is less tiring.
6. Keep to the high ground(Habakkuk 3:19). The rocks in Raufarhólshellir are strewn randomly across its entire lengthand breadth and you can choosean infinite number of paths between them, or over them. Ifyou try to walk on top you riskfalling between the rocks and cutting yourself on their sharpedges. If you walk between themthere’s less risk of falling but youoften reach dead ends whereyou’ll have to climb anyway. Dan told us that the best approach is to keep on top asmuch as possible. You can seewhere you are going so you’reless likely to get disorientated,and it somehow just feels better,being up rather than down.Strangely enough, although thesharp edges on the top of therocks are a potential hazard, they also provide excellent grip,especially in the icy section of thecave.
7. Travel in a group (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Dan has explored the cave on his own,and even slept overnight in itspitch-dark interior. It’s a good experience for the guide to havehad, but it’s not for everyone. Thesafest way to negotiate unknownterritory is to travel as a group. If those in your group are yourfriends and colleagues, so muchthe better. At no point in the entire trip did I ever feel afraid. Ifanything went wrong I knew thatthe others would get me out.When one of the torches died,someone rummaged around inhis backpack and found sparebatteries. In a group you aremuch stronger, safer and happierthan you would be on your own.
These are just a few of the manylessons that Dan teaches on hisregular excursions into the cave.As we stopped for prayer at thefurthest and deepest point of thecave we realised that they allhave spiritual parallels. Reviewthe main points again and you’llsee what I mean. You may evenbe able to think of some moreBible texts to match each lesson.
Since my retirement, andrecall into service on various occasions, it
has come to my mind that there are three basic necessities for the effective pastoring of a flock:apart from, and without which, no pastoral ministrycan be truly effective and satisfactory. Conversely, ifthese necessities are incorporated into that ministry,every need of the flock will be provided for. They are:to know the flock; to feed the flock; and to multiplythe flock.
Getting to know the flock is not possible duringthe brief contact of the Sabbath services; nor even in the closer opportunities for acquaintance offeredduring prayer meeting; nor during any other meetings of the church. It is only as the pastor visits the members (and interested visitors) in theirhomes, that an acquaintance with their individualfamily, spiritual and practical circumstances can begained. Practical needs (as Jesus met them) are tobe no less our concern; although the spiritual onesshould, of course, always remain paramount. In fact,in meeting the one, the door will be opened to meetthe other. Since ‘telepathy’ is not the gift of any pastor, pastoral visitation becomes an utter necessity!
In the homes of our members we will becomeacquainted with their life-circumstances and needs. Everyone has needs: even if only for encouragement, affirmation, or counsel. And wonderful it is when a pastor has a gift for sharingjust a meaningful and pertinent fragment of Scripture, before concluding his or her visit withprayer, and departing. When it was my own privilegeand responsibility to commence my ministry nearlysix decades ago, I felt that my greatest inhibition,when visiting, was simply knowing what to talkabout. But immediately when I started, I realised that it was no problem at all: for they talked, and Ilistened; then perhaps asked such relevant questionsas might come to mind. Even Moses, ‘slow ofspeech’ though he was, could have coped.
It is in the home, and there alone, where the trueshepherd becomes acquainted with his flock. Therethe pastor is in the position to meetspiritual and practical needs, as he orshe may become aware of them. Bysuch acquaintance the pastor canknow the needs of his flock: apartfrom and without which, how can he satisfactorily fulfil the second necessity for a shepherd: to feed hisflock; to lead them to ‘green pastures’and ‘beside still waters’?
The second necessity, then, is tofeed his flock; and there is one primesource of sound spiritual nutrition: the Scriptures! Feed the flock by theirtrue and careful exposition – not psychology, nor current news, nor
5
Lessons from the cave
by Pastor John Surridge, Welsh Mission President
Top: Descending the snow into the cave entrance. Left: DanSommer in the cave. Above: John Surridge, Jeremy Tremeerand Adriana Fodor at the end of the cave. Below left: JeremyTremeer squeezing under a boulder.
take a moment a perspectiveWhat! Visit?Pastor Ronald V. Edwards (retired) reminds us that there are still some things thatsocial media, email and telephone calls cannot do.
2016 NEC Session notificationNotice is hereby given that the 62nd Session of the
North England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held from 10am Thursday, 21 July 2016
and conclude on Sunday, 24 July 2016. Registration begins at 7.30am on Thursday.
The venue is the Macron Stadium, De Havilland Way,Bolton, BL6 6SF. Sabbath, 23 July 2016 will be a Day of
Fellowship and more details will follow later.NEC Executive Secretary
NEC Camp Meeting coach For transportation from the Midlands, Wolverhampton and Birmingham to the NEC Camp Meetingin Skegness please contact Mr Hubert Smiley on: 01384213803;07868288310; 07736509625; 07831958114; or by email:[email protected].
philosophy, nor any ‘-ism’ that may momentarily becurrent, but by the careful and inspiring exposition of the sacred Scriptures. That is not to suggest thatwe should avoid using current experiences and realities to illustrate their teachings, just as Jesusused parables.
Thus, in order to feed the flock, one’s own original, systematic study of the Scriptures must be daily and incessant. Such study should not belimited to what others have said or written aboutthe Scriptures (though this is not to be excluded, butonly used after we have done our own original study,reflection and research).
The two former having been attended to – knowing the flock and feeding the sheep – the thirdnecessity will inevitably follow: to multiply the flock.As pastors, let us never err by putting the third (multiplying the flock) prior to the former two. Youcannot; and it will not work (in any permanent way).
May God give us true pastors (elders, deaconsand deaconesses too), who care for their sheep andare practical in expressing that care: by visiting, byfeeding and (consequently) by multiplying the flock.In conclusion I commend to every pastor individuallyand to each pastoral team the prayerful and conscientious consideration of these Scriptures: Jeremiah 23:1-4, 18, 21-25, 28-30; Ezekiel 34; John 10:1-16.
Sutton-in-Ashfield, a Nottinghamshire town with a population of around 45,000, isn’t yourtypical British tourist destination. It isn’t quaint, famous or thriving. In fact, it is one of thosetowns hard hit by the closure of the UK’s many collieries. The local Sutton Colliery closed
in 1989, leaving many jobless. In subsequent years the hosiery industry in the town has alsofallen on hard times due to various factory closures.
Despite these socio-economic hardships the faith and energy of the local Adventists is remarkably buoyant. They have a number of outreach projects, some of which have been mentioned before in the MESSENGER. Recently, however, the editor preached there and was invitedto observe one of these first hand.
Here is what he found. About four years ago oneof the members, Moray Stewart, was appointed thechurch’s personal ministry leader. One of the firstthings he did was to check on the literature stocks,only to find that the church had an oversupply of literature – books, magazines and tracts – thatwere simply gathering dust. Moray was appalled bythis and set about changing the situation. He wentdown to the centre management at the Idlewellsshopping centre, the most prestigious in town, andasked whether they would let him set up a ‘freebook’ table on two Saturday afternoons a month.Once they had seen the quality of the literature involved they agreed, giving him a space directly in front of their offices.
Since then, with the enthusiastic help of DianeMorton, Linda Nix, Mervyn Mason and others –and the generous financial support of certain members – the ‘free book’ table has become a fixture at the Idlewells centre.
No ‘hard sell’ tacticsThose who man the table do not use any ‘hard sell’tactics. When passers-by show an interest in thebooks they answer their questions, make ‘gentle’ suggestions as to what may best meet theirneeds, and make friends. They don’t shrink from mentioning the Church’s name if asked and arequite ready to engage in deeper discussion when the opportunity arises.
There are people who return every so often for further titles and the team have been surprisedto see how popular Bibles have become. There is also a healthy interest in books about Jesus,especially around Easter, when many seem more open to religious matters. The large, colourfulversions of The Great Controversy and The Final Crisis are very popular, as are the children’sbooks they now stock.
How much does it cost?Well, you might think that such a project is beyond the financial capability of the average church,but that is not so. This project is funded by donations, costs around £1,000 a year to supportand results in the distribution of upwards of 300 books per annum – books that people select forthemselves and will hopefully read!
What are the results?Who really knows? Only the divine records will fully answer that question. According to Moray,however, a few people have attended church because of the impression made on them during their discussions at the ‘free book’ table and their subsequent reading of thebooks received.
For more information on how to run yourown ‘free book’ project please feel free to contact Moray Stewart of the Sutton-in-Ashfield church on 01773 609100, 07480934847 or at [email protected].
For a selection of books and Bibles to usein such a project please contact Pastor SamOuadjo at [email protected] a member of the ABC team on 01476591700. THE EDITOR
76
Thanks for the musicDear EditorI just wanted to pass on my sincere thanks toAlexander Douglas for his succinct but honest assessment of the way the Seventh-day Adventist
Church has dealt with issues around music in the church over the years (‘Is the problem withmusic?’ MESSENGER, 8 April). His assessment is absolutely correct, and, more often than not,when it comes to music, the church fails to carry out any serious and rigorous analysis before it speaks on the matter. The church often simply relies upon superstitious notions of music and/or cherry-picks those examples of a negative impact to support its positionwithout looking at the multiple positive examples that actually contradict its position. Whatgood is a watchman that you can’t trust? WORTH QUARRIE, CAMP HILL CHURCH
share your ideas innovation
2016 BUC session notificationNotice is hereby given that the quinquennial session of the British Union
Conference will take place at Newbold College, Binfield, Berks RG42 4ANbetween 30 June and 2 July 2016. Notice is also given that proposals to
modify the constitution of the British Union Conference and the modelconstitutions of the conferences and missions in harmony with the General Conference models will also be presented. Delegates will
receive documentation in advance of the session.
Pastor Paul Lockham, Executive SecretaryBritish Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Banbridge ‘creativi-tea’ for ADRAThe Banbridge church set out to raise £150 for ADRA at a special event on Sunday 1 May. Little did they realise, however, what a surprise was ‘brewing’ for them whenthe money was tallied up at the end of the day: it was such a surprise that it was difficult for Pastor Curtis Samuel to re‘strain’ his enthusiasm as he shared the story.
‘The people at ADRA are always encouraging their volunteers to be creative with their fund-raising efforts for the charity,’ said Pastor Curtis. ‘The members inBanbridge decided that they would take up this challenge and the idea that theycame up with was afternoon tea. People would be invited along to the church halland asked to give voluntary donations while enjoying the food and tea on offer. Tea is the great social equaliser here, and not something that is turned down often; andaround 30 people had signed up. The target was set for £150.’
Having set the plans, the hard work began.With much dedicated, behind-the-scenes work and the kind of baking that,
according to Pastor Curtis, ‘would make Mary Berry proud’, come 1 May there weresome delightful meringues, scones and sandwiches on offer. The hall was beautifullydecorated, bunting was put up and there was even a warm log fire projected on thewall to add to the aroma-filled atmosphere. It gave it a real homely feel. Each tablehad an ADRA Ingathering tin on it and people were asked to just give their voluntarydonations as they saw fit.
Curtis reports that ‘while the teabags were straining, there was no restraint in the conversation and social interaction.’ By the end of the day, the donations werecounted and amazingly the target of £150 was not only doubled, but tripled! A totalof £521 was raised in the space of a few hours.
‘A huge thank-you to the organisers Carol Magee and Sharon Burns (a mother-and-daughter team), who worked tirelessly to make this a success, and to all those who attended and contributed to the worthy cause.
‘Church members were enthusiastic about the outcome of the event, and theyhave accepted the challenge to do even better next year. Being creative with yourfund-raising is the way to go. It certainly brought out the generosi-tea in the members.’ PASTOR CURTIS SAMUEL (A ‘TEALOGIAN’)
Truth for the taking!
inbox
Diane, Mervyn and Moray
Moray shows Julian Hibbert some of the stock
Some Adventists have discovered thatpractically all of our pioneers were anti-Trinitarian and have concluded that
the church today should reject the doctrine ofthe Trinity. The truth is that the Lord guidedthis movement to a more biblical understanding of God. Today, based on the Bible, we affirm the truth of one God in a plurality of Persons. I mention here justsome of the biblical support available.
1. The Spirit as power. The opinion that theSpirit is not a person is partially based on thefact that very often He is described as apower coming from God, falling on people,and enabling them to do certain tasks (e.g.,Judges 3:10; Acts 2:4). Moreover, the Greekword for ‘spirit’ (pneuma) is neuter: that is to say, we can refer to the Spirit as ‘it’, implying that He is not a person. But that is aphenomenon of Greek grammar that doesn’tnecessarily have any theological significance.
2. The Spirit and Jesus. With the coming ofJesus our understanding of the Godhead wasgreatly enriched. Because Jesus was God inhuman flesh (John 1:1; 20:28; Titus 2:13),distinct from the Father (Matt. 3:17) yet onewith Him (John 14:10), His followers began torealise that there was in the mystery of God aplurality of persons. The mystery increasedwhen Jesus described the Spirit not as something but as Someone, who would takeHis place in the experience of the disciples: ‘I[Jesus] will ask the Father, and he will giveyou another Counsellor . . . the Spirit of truth’(John 14:16, 17, NIV 1984).
Jesus introduced His disciples to the mystery of a Godhead that consisted of threedistinct Persons: Jesus, the Father, and theCounsellor/Spirit. In this particular passage
the Spirit is not described as an impersonalpower, but as a Person. Jesus refers to Himas ‘another [Greek: allos] Counsellor’, onewho intercedes for someone else. He is called‘another’ because Jesus is also a Counsellor(1 John 2:1). Only a person can function as acounsellor.
But there’s more to it. If the Spirit wasgoing to continue the function of Jesus asCounsellor, then He had to possess the samenature Jesus had: that is to say, He had to bedivine. Jesus said that ‘no one else [allos]’could do the work He did (John 15:24, NIV),but He clarifies that there is One who, likeHim, will be a new Counsellor. When Jesusrefers to the Spirit as Counsellor using themasculine pronoun (He), Jesus is identifyingHim as a Person: ‘. . . he will testify about me’(verse 26, NIV). Hence the Holy Spirit is bothdivine and a Person.
3. The apostles and the Spirit. Whenthe disciples received the Holy Spirit
they experienced Him as a power pouredout on them by God (Acts 2:33); but they also recognised Him as the divine Personpromised to them by Jesus.
In the narrative of Ananias and Sapphira we find a
clear view of thedisciples’
understanding of the
nature ofthe Spirit.
Peter confronted theguilty couple with their sin
by saying to them, ‘. . . youhave lied to the Holy Spirit.
. . . You have not lied just tohuman beings but to God’ (Acts
5:3, 4, NIV). We have here twoimportant pieces of information. First, the
Spirit is a Person, because we can lie only topersons, not to things. Second, He is divine,because lying to Him is the equivalent to lyingto God.
Throughout the New Testament we findclear evidence that the apostles believed theSpirit was a Person on a par with the Fatherand the Son. They knew that the Spirit speaks(Acts 21:11), exercises His will (Acts 16:6),sends messengers (Acts 13:4), reflects theological truth (Acts 15:28), can be grieved(Eph. 4:30), apportions gifts (1 Cor. 12:11),intercedes (Rom. 8:26, 34), gives joy (Rom.14:17), etc. These are all characteristics ofpersons that allow us to definitively refer to the Spirit as a Person. By mentioning Him inconjunction with the Father and the Son thebiblical writers were testifying to the unity ofthe three Persons (2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14;Rom. 15:30; Eph. 2:18; 1 Peter 1:2; Rev. 1:4, 5). As a church we simply proclaim the biblical teaching without attempting to explainthe mystery of God’s unity.
Irish Mission of Seventh-day AdventistsTriennial Session
Notice is hereby given that a Triennial Session of the Irish Mission of Seventh-day Adventists will be held on 1-2 October 2016, at Emmaus Retreat Centre, Swords, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
Delegates should note that registration will commence at 6pm on Saturday evening. The opening of the Session is scheduled for 7pm.
Delegates are required to have registered prior to the commencement in order to participate in choosing members of the Recommendation Committee.
D. R. Neal, PresidentP. Lockham, Executive Secretary
The Holy Spirit and the Godheadby Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, prominent Adventist theologian and former director of the Biblical Research Institute of Seventh-day Adventists.
In the MESSENGER of 22 April we featured an article that outlined the historical development of our present doctrine of the Trinity. In this follow-up study Rodríguez specifically addresses the question raised by some that the Holy Spirit is neither a person nor a member of the Godhead.
Camp activities may include:
Athletics, volleyball, archery, walking, running, kayaking, watersports, beach games, swimming, worship, arts and crafts,
snooker, table tennis, indoor games
For more information and to book your place please contact Pastor Obi (Camp Master): 07941496338; [email protected]
Price: from £116 to £171 (includes transport, food and accommodation)
Midlands Family CampAberdaron, North Wales
23-28 August 2016
Newbold students impact local community Newbold College staff and students headed out into the communityagain on Friday, 15 April, on the college’s biannual Impact Day of volunteering and service.
Groups of students participated in what have now become regulartrips to Bracknell locations that, for this semester, included the Birds-grove Care Home, Jealott’s Hill Community Landshare, and South HillPark.
Dr John Baildam, Newbold’s Principal, is a regular member of theteam that visits Birdsgrove. ‘As always, it was a joy to see the pleasurein the residents’ eyes. One lady was so moved by our group’s visit thatshe had to be taken back to her room! To see such an internationalgroup of staff and students working so well together to bring joy, peaceand hope to others at the end of their lives is another demonstration ofwhat Newbold is all about,’ he said.
The Jealott’s Hill Community Landshare is another location that hasbecome a regular spot for Newbold students to volunteer. The gardenproject is managed by volunteers and, according to the organisation,features a 400-tree orchard, half-acre vineyard, large polytunnel, andthree acres of cultivated ground with plans to develop a half-acre sensory garden. The Landshare actively encourages community members with special needs, including the elderly or those recoveringfrom physical illness or addiction, to connect with nature on their land.
‘Our students and staff enjoyed getting their hands dirty, even in thepouring rain, as they helped prepare new features at the Landshare. Wewere able to contribute to a sensory experience park for blind peopleand a new exercise frame for the visitors. Connecting with David, thefriendly project manager, was great, and he thanked Newbold for thecollege’s engagement with the Landshare over the last few years. Serving and doing physical labour is a blessing,’ said Dr Bjørn Ottesen,who accompanied the group to Jealott’s Hill.
While the free car wash, which is a regular favourite with locals andhas brought many new visitors onto the campus, was cancelled later inthe morning due to inclement weather, students were able to complete apainting project at South Hill Park, a local community arts centre.
Pastor Alastair Agbaje, the College Chaplain, said he thought the dayhad been a success. ‘It is a privilege to see students and staff fromNewbold serve the community as a part of this event, which follows onfrom our recent participation in the Global Youth Day programme ofministry and evangelism. Service is very much part of our ethos atNewbold.’
The day concluded with a thank-you dinner for volunteers and a vespers programme designed to encourage participants to reflect on theimpact of service on the local community. KIRSTY WATKINS
Quinn; and Pastor Kenny Shelton of ‘Behold The Lamb Ministries’based in Herrin, Illinois. Five of the other speakers are from the USAand four from the UK.
The churches selected to host the programmes have already startedtheir groundwork in earnest. Notable among them is Tottenham WestGreen Road Church, whose efforts in Haringey have caught the attention of Councillor Barbara Blake. She wrote to thank the church for its work on a street regeneration project that is benefiting local residents. She was particularly impressed by the Pathfinders: ‘Theywere a delightful, hard-working, humorous, interesting and very livelygroup who are clearly a credit to the Church, their families andHaringey.’ Tottenham members will soon start a community chaplaincyservice as well.
In support of the selected churches the London Area AdvisoryCouncil are putting their weight behind the project financially and by rallying members in London to support the project, some of whomhave made significant donations towards it.
The September outreach will be preceded by ‘HealthFest London’, aunique health outreach weekend scheduled for 27 and 28 August (seeadverts on pages 12 and 13). It will showcase the Adventist healthmessage on Sabbath 27 August, followed by a health festival featuringour lifestyle TV doctor, Chidi Ngwaba. Dr Chidi will present practicalseminars on disease prevention and the reversal of certain lifestyle diseases. The healthfest will also include health checks and cookingdemonstrations, and will conclude with the premiere of a Mervyn Weirmusical drama featuring the ‘Rhythm of Life’.
As the SEC prepares to impact London with this ‘ONE LIFE – TheBest You Can Be: Body, Mind and Spirit’ initiative, the Conference President, Dr Richard de Lisser, encourages all our members to embrace it as an opportunity to invite their non-Adventist families,neighbours, work colleagues and friends to attend. He encourages all to become real champions of ‘Evangelism, Everyone, Everywhere’.
Thecountdownhas begun!
by Pastor Sam Davies, SEC Communication and PRDirector
In about three months’ time the South England Conference, in partnership with 3ABN, will begin the much-anticipated massive evangelistic outreach scheduled for London. Originally planned as a huge single-venue event, it has been modified to include eleven locations in London and two in the provinces. This unprecedented eventwill thus involve simultaneous evangelism at thirteen centres within theConference.
3ABN will provide nine of the thirteen speakers and they will alsotelevise it live on their network from one of the London venues, with additional recordings at selected sites for on-demand viewing.
The line-up of speakers includes the 3ABN Director of World Evangelism, Pastor John Lomacang; the General Manager of 3ABN,Pastor C. A. Murray; the Programme Development Manager, Shelley
1110 news
Mental health awarenesseventEarlier this year some members of the Bristol Centralchurch held an event that brought over 60 peoplefrom the community together to discuss the stigmasand discrimination that mental health sufferers experience.
The team, led by the writer, also included RaniPawar, Naomi Watson, Marcia Henderson and Lanolin Dowe. It was held in Fi Real Caribbean Cafe in St Phillips (owned by members, Clive andJeanette Campbell) on Sunday, 28 February from12.30 to 3.30pm.
This team was assisted by several presenters.Ollie was a volunteer from Avon Fire Rescue, who spoke about fire prevention and safety. AnnaBalcerek from CASS (Community Access SupportServices) spoke about mental health and well-being,and Narinder Chana from Rethink spoke about anxiety and depression. The latter topics generatedconsiderable discussion among the audience, with many people feeling that they had been discriminated against at some point due to mentalhealth issues. Bhavesh Hindocha, who works forTime To Change, travelled all the way from Londonto film the event. He was full of praise for the activities of the day and how well they were organised.
Overall, responses and feedback to the eventwere very positive. One person who wanted to stayanonymous remarked, ‘Excellent event. It focusedon a holistic approach to mental health.’
We gave out several leaflets on mental health,along with seventeen copies of Steps to Christ and a number of other items of Adventist literature.MARY PHILIP (HEALTH/COMMUNITY AND DISABILITY MINISTRIES, BRISTOLCENTRAL)
PHOTOS BY NELSON KHONJEAs supplied, errors and omissions excepted
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As supplied, errors and omissions excepted As supplied, errors and omissions excepted
From Hackney to HampsteadFive special ladies, members of the Hackney church, successfully completed a 30-mile walk from Hackney to Hampstead on Sunday 3April, raising approximately £1,000 between them for ADRA (AdventistDevelopment and Relief Agency). Hackney’s ADRA walk co-ordinator,Suzanne George, was pleased with the efforts of the participants. ‘Tohave completed a 30-mile walk for ADRA from Hackney to Hampsteadwas an amazing experience,’ says Suzanne. She added: ‘This was mythird time organising the walk and it will be great to see the group grow.One has got to do it in order to know how it feels. Plus it’s all in thename of charity, which is important.’ DARELL J. PHILIP
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that they would be transformed into vessels fit for the King of Kings.Eirlys Broome led out in an interesting exercise during which the
group learned about some of the lesser-known women of the Bible; somany of them aren’t even named. They concluded, however, that theywere no different to these women. They felt that God had created themall in His image, each with a special uniqueness, to be used for differentpurposes but ultimately to reflect His glory.JENNIFER ROWELL (SPONSOR FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRIES IN WALES)
Welsh Women’sMinistries retreatHebron Hall, near Cardiff, was thevenue for a recent Welsh Women’sMinistries retreat, attended by 23women, including some non-members and some from the NorthEngland Conference.
Gifts and giftedness were a focalpoint of the weekend’s discussionsand there was a concerted effort for each attendee to discover herspiritual gifts and to use them, asPaul admonishes us. It seemed appropriate that the group was accommodated in ‘The Potter’s House’because discussions took place about God being the Master Potter. Furthermore, their creative skills were put to the test when they wereasked to form their own pots. This resulted in lots of fun and laughterand some amazing end products! They were reminded of 2 Corinthians4:7, which mentions ‘treasure in clay jars’, and that we are all createdfor a purpose – to be filled with the very essence of Jesus. As is customary, the group spent a lot of time in prayer, specifically asking
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Baptisms in ScotlandDr K. Thomas held a week of revival and outreach in the Scottish Mission, from 26 February to 5 March.
The meetings started in Faifley and ended in the Glasgow church,with all who attended enjoying an enormous blessing, including PastorBernie Holford, the Mission’s president.
The event ended on a high note as three new members were broughtinto God’s church by baptism – Sidumiso Gwizi, Louis Douglas and Masitula Kironde.BEVERLEY MAKWAKWA
Lodge Causeway baptism: 9 AprilLodge Causeway, one of several churches in Bristol, has a very cosmopolitan membership which now includes its first Cuban, Hilda L.Leyva Reve. She gave her testimony the morning of her baptism andtold this remarkable story.
Hilda was brought up as a Catholic in Cuba by her grandmother. In2003 she came to Britain alone but, unfortunately, her grandmother diedin Cuba just three months after her arrival here. Suddenly Hilda wasalone in a strange country and mourning the loss of someone sheloved. She told how she had been brought up to believe that the dead go either to heaven or to hell and that they are close to their loved ones,offering support. One day at work a customer noticed how upset Hildawas and gave her a Bible. For the next three years she studied her Biblealone. Then one day she came across the following verse: ‘For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neitherhave they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.’ Ecclesiastes 9:5, KJV.
She looked for a church that followed the principles she had beenlearning from her Bible. Eventually she began having studies with theminister of one of the Bristol Seventh-day Adventist churches. Feelingconfident that she had found what she was looking for, Hilda entered thewaters of baptism, with her husband looking on.
Pastor Rudika Puskas conducted the baptism in Lodge Causeway,the church closest to their home. It was a privilege to hear Hilda’s encouraging story and to see her give her life to her Saviour. She is awelcome addition to our church family.STEPHANIE ANDERSON (COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY)
Crieff member honouredMr Harry Wilby, an 84-year-old member of the Crieff Seventh-day Adventist church, was greatly surprised and delighted when he was presented with a crystal ADRA ‘Lifetime of Service to Humanity’ awardand certificate at the church service on 9 April. Harry had been asked to be on the platform for the morning service and his face showed hissurprise and delight as the story unfolded.
The award was presented by Bert Smit, ADRA-UK Director, who had been invited to take the morning service. Also honoured was TonyWelch, who was visiting his family in Crieff. Attending the service were Pastor John Arthur, a former director of ADRA-Europe, and PastorDouglas Sinclair, a former director of ADRA-UK, both of whom have retired to Crieff.
Harry and Tony were key truck drivers for the ADRA aid shipments to Europe for many years until 2006. They drove over 90 sorties between them, carrying humanitarian aid to poverty-stricken people in Albania and the victims of the Balkans war. On their long journeysover unfamiliar and dangerous roads, they were shot at, endured longhold-ups at the border and had testing driving conditions in all sorts ofweather. Tony still has a case with bullet holes in it – a reminder of histrip into Sarajevo. They believe they were given special protection asthey carried out their work to help those in need.
Mr Smit said that charities like ADRA depend on the help of willingvolunteers, and he was so grateful for helpers like Harry and Tony andthe many hundreds more from the Adventist churches in Britain. Theaward coincided with the launch of the 2016 Annual Appeal. BOB RODD
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‘One is a whole number’A report on the recent singles’ conference
When you read these words, ‘One Is a Whole Number, Completeness inChrist – Celebrating the Journey’, what is your initial reaction? Whatimmediately catches your attention? What will you focus on: ‘one’,‘whole’, ‘completeness’ or ‘celebrating the journey’? This theme wasused for the recent singles’ conference hosted by the BUC Women’sMinistries Department as part of its Women of Virtue programme, andit generated some deep discussion. Here are some of the reasons forits choice:• To celebrate wholeness in Christ• To address the brokenness we experience on our journey, through
holistic ministry• To emphasise that being single does not denote being incomplete,
as singles are sometimes made to feel that they are not completewithout a ‘mate’
• To challenge and address the negative behaviour singles often havedirected at them
• To remind singles of their value, purpose and potential
The event was held on Sunday 24 April in Stratford-upon-Avon at thelovely Stratford Manor venue, as a statement of the value we place onour singles.
The main auditorium held beautiful and carefully crafted exhibitscapturing the varying aspects of singleness and life stages. Each stallrepresented segments of the conference theme and the focus for theafternoon workshops. The vivid displays and rivetingpresentations engendered a sense of purpose, expectancy and the celebration of one’s season of life.Yet, in the midst of beauty was the painful ‘thorn’ – the lack of effective ministry to singles in a number ofour churches. Sadly, this was a recurring theme in theinteractive plenary exercises, the testimonies sharedand the workshop discussions, and it ended with a callfor our churches to sit up and listen to the needs of oursingles.
The conference aim was to highlight the varied andcomplex aspects of singleness while showcasing howsingles can become purposeful and productive in spiteof the challenges that confront them. Due to the natureof the event and the sensitive issues that could havebeen raised, prayer intercessors as well as counsellorswere invited as part of the ministry to attendees. The counselling service and prayer ministry were appreciated as numerous women opened their heartsand shared their experiences.
Raw emotion was also evident in every workshopas the reality of the current challenges and issues oursingles faced became evident. Coupled with this wasthe inadequate church response and the damaging encounters some singles had experienced from fellowchurch members and leaders. A support network isnow being developed to redress this.
The diverse segments of singleness were examinedin the context of the word ‘completeness’. This entailedexploring the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ women experience inthese varied life seasons while realising that God stillhas a plan for them, which they can achieve throughHim. There was much reflection on Colossians 2:10 –‘and you are complete in Him . . .’ (NKJV) – and thiswonderful scripture was embraced as an affirmationthat gave value and assurance to the women.
The conference gave specific attention to all the various aspects of singleness, particularly during thevarious workshops where a range of probing questionswere thoroughly discussed, with each facilitator beingasked to capture the key aspects and provide feedbackfor the panel discussions. A full report based on theworkshop feedback and panel discussion will becomeavailable to the membership at large in due course.
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The conference speakers included Halcy-Ann Platt: What does singleness mean to you? (interactive exercise and personal perspectives); Jaz Rodney-Sargeant: The purposeful single woman(making the best of your life); Hopieann Platt: While I wait, I will . . .(how to live a full life while still hoping for marriage); and Lydia Simon:Red-flag scenarios (a discussion of the ‘no go’ areas and how to avoidthem).
One goal of the conference was to speak to real issues but look atthem through a prism of possibilities that included the healing Christ offers. According to the numerous positive evaluations of the event, thiswas achieved. Respondents also reported the importance of being ableto share their stories, be listened to and, hopefully, have their Churchrespond appropriately.
Subsequently, a number of conference attendees have shown interest in being part of a singles’ ministry and have returned to theirchurches to discuss this possibility with their church leadership.
A powerful prayer session ended the day, with Karen Plumb leadingout in a prayer of blessing for our singles. This is something ourchurches need to spend more time doing for singles, and less time criticising them.
A hand massage session provided a welcome relaxation point andhelped the women feel pampered and valued.
The conference outcomes are too many to mention here, but onething has come through clearly – that singles’ ministry is an essentialministry, which requires more attention that it currently receives –something to which our BUC Women’s Ministries Department is totallycommitted.SHARON PLATT-MCDONALD (BUC DIRECTOR FOR HEALTH, WOMEN’S MINISTRY AND DISABILITYAWARENESS)
have great fun using them. She gave a brief presentation about BCH to members before bagging up the items and heading back to the hospital.
On reflection we are very happy with how the project turned out and with the response we had from everybody concerned. It has encouraged us to do similar projects in the future.KYLIE ANDERSON AND YNIQUE YEARDE (EXPLORER UNIT – ERDINGTON COMMUNITY PATHFINDERING CLUB)
Erdington’s Easter treatWhen our Pathfinder Unit Counsellor, DirectorDavis, asked us what we were going to dofor our special outreach project, we got our thinking caps on and decided to dosomething for children. Our idea was to collect and distribute Easter eggs to the children in Birmingham Children’s Hospital.We chose BCH because of our club’s longstanding relationship with it, plus the fact that one of our group has been undergoingtreatment there and wanted to give something back to the hospital.
We approached our families, friends andchurch members to donate either the eggs orcash for us to buy the eggs. We collectedover £70 in cash plus a number of eggs. Thefund-raising team at the hospital advised usto get art supplies as well as eggs, as many of the children are not able to have chocolate; besides which, quite a few companies alreadydonate Easter eggs to them each year.
With more than £70 in our pockets we went shopping on 18 Marchfor art supplies, and, with the help of Councillor Dawkins, carefully displayed our purchases for BCH representative Nancy Lillington to collect on the afternoon of Sabbath 19 March. Nancy said she was very grateful for the gifts, and that the children at the hospital would
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For more information on the Certificate in Health and Wellness, visit: www.newbold.ac.uk/health-and-wellness
On Sunday 26 June from 1pm to 6pm, the Southall church and the Music and
Evangelism Departments of London Area 6Dwill offer ‘A Merry Heart Doeth Good Like aMedicine’, a community-wide music andhealth fair that will take place at Southall
Seventh-day Adventist Church, North Road,Southall, Middlesex, UB1 2JL.
There will be:• health checks,
• juicing demonstrations, • food tasting,
• fitness testing, • massages and
• presentations by health professionals and others. These will include: diabetes,music and the mind, obesity and cancer.
If you are in the Southall area, we invite youto join us for this free fair.
Leamington Mission raises funds forADRASunday 17 April was a bright sunny day, just right for an organised outdoor event like Leamington Church’s annual ADRA-sponsored cycleride. The location? This year it was held at Draycote Water, a freshwaterreservoir in Warwickshire.
A large group of 38, mainly from young families, gathered for the event. Although called a sponsored cycle ride, their brief was tocomplete some or all of the five-mile circuit by whatever means theywished. One person jogged, some walked, others rode their bikes. Therewas also a large spread in participants’ ages, ranging from 3 to over 70.Things began with a picnic before everyone set off around the reservoir.
The walk was of particular interest to one young man, Michael Harrison. His great-great-grandfather had once farmed the land nowlying underneath the waters of the reservoir. He had to sell up the familyfarm, under compulsory purchase order, when the project to create afresh water supply for the local community was proposed.
Now, four generations later, Michael was helping to raise money toprovide clean drinking water for impoverished communities in Chad,Africa – one of the projects to benefit from the ADRA funding.LORRAINE GLINTON
ADRA marathonmanSunday 24 April was a busyday on the UK marathon calendar with both the Londonand Stratford-upon-Avonmarathons being held (amongothers) simultaneously.
As with previous yearsthese events provided a perfectopportunity for the LeamingtonSpa Mission members and others to help raise funds forthe annual ADRA Appeal.
With the very generoussponsorship of £1,000, NigelClark, one of Leamington’smembers, completed the 26.2miles of the Stratford-upon-Avon marathon in a time of 3hours 47 minutes. Accordingto Nigel, ‘It’s amazing how allthat support manages to keepyou going when things begin tohurt a little towards the end ofthe race, and great to becheered to the finish by familyand friends from The Mission.’
Nigel thanks everyone onceagain for their support for theannual ADRA Appeal.LEAMINGTON SPA MISSION CHURCH
Pathfinders are ‘sentpacking’Erdington’s generosity went beyond the supply of Easter treats for the children ofBCH, for on the same day their Pathfinderclub presented the Birmingham Children’sHospital with a cheque for £270 raised duringvarious Packathon (bag packing) events heldby the club over a three-year period. Club Director, Trevor Davis, said: ‘We have beendoing bag packing for the last four years toraise funds to purchase equipment for theclub. Each time we would put a percentage of what we raised away for the Children’sHospital. It is a case of trying to help others while helping ourselves. OurPathfinders are inspired to know that they are able to help such a worthycause.’
Church minister, Pastor Steve Palmer, along with the club members,was on hand to make thepresentation to Nancy Lillington from BCH. Theclub requested that the fundsbe allocated to Ward Seven,where one of its members is currently undergoing treatment.
MessengerVolume 121 • 11 – 3 June 2016
Editor: Julian HibbertDesign: David Bell
Proof reading: Andrew Puckering
COPY FOR No. 13 – 9 June 2016
Copy should be sent to the Editor, MESSENGER, TheStanborough Press Limited, Alma Park, Grantham,
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Pastor Palmer said, ‘It is commendable that our Pathfindersare able to link into the communityin such a positive way. Long maythis association with the BCH continue.’ To which BCH’s NancyLillington added, ‘It’s really fantasticthat your club is able to support thehospital in this way. Your membersdeserve a lot of credit.’ TREVOR DAVIS
Baby dedicationOn 23 April, the newest member of Bristol’s Lodge CausewayChurch was dedicated to the Lord. Aged two months and threeweeks, baby Oscar Pierre Boureau was brought by his parents, Cyriland Megan, for dedication to God. Cyril is French and Megan fromSouth Africa, and a number of their family members and friendswere present, including some visiting from France and Holland. Pastor Rudika Puskas conducted the uplifting service and the littlechurch was full of happy people, pleased to witness this joyfulevent.STEPHANIE ANDERSON (COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY)
Erdington supports BCH
Baby Oscar Pierre Boureau with parents, Cyril andMegan
